Tractor plow



March 11 1924. 1,486,385

r A. s. KROTZ TRACTOR 'PLow File ne 29, 1916 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 11 1924'.

A. s. KROTZ TRACTOR PLOW Filed June 29, 1916 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 11 1924.

' A. s. KROTZ TRACTOR PLOW Filed June 29-, 1916 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 mar W I 4664 %7&L w

2 M65565: [hue/afar March 11 1924. 1,486,385

\ I A. S. KROTZ TRACTOR PLOW Filed June 29 1916 9 Sheew-Sheet 4 Q M W i H v i I I ml ,;5 A I i March 11,1924. 1,486,385

A. S. KR OTZ TRACTOR PLow Filed June 29, 1916 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 W565 I wavy, M

arch 11, 1924. 1,486,385

.A. S. KROTZ TRACTOR PLOW Filed June 29, 1916 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 A. S. KROTZ TRACTOR PLOW March 111 5 1924.

Filed June 29, 1916 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 March 11 1924. 1,486,385

A. s. KROTZ TRACTOR PLOW Filed June 29, 1916 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented ar. 11, 1924.

ALVARO S. KROTZ, F JANESVIIIIL'E, VJISCONSIN;

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TRACTOR PLOW.

Application filed June 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALvAno S. Know, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of J anesville, Rock County, Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tractor Plows, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wheeled-plows of that kind in which the construction is such that the plow may be hitched to a tractionengine or other motor-vehicle and pulled across the field, and in which provisions are made for enabling the driver on the traction-engine to raise and lower the plow at will, thus making it unnecessary for an attendant to ride on the wheeled-plow itself during the plowing operation. Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide an improved and highly efficient tractor-plow of the foregoing gen eral character.

Special objects are to provide an improved construction and arrangement for raising and lowering the plow, so that the driver or attendant on the traction-engine or other motor-vehicle can raise or lower the plow at will by simply pulling on a connection which extends to the wheeled-plow behind; to provide an improved construction and arrangement for regulating the depth, so that the plow can be adjusted to operate at the desired depth in the ground, in a manner that will tend to ensure better results than heretofore; to provide an improved construction whereby, in a tractor plow of this particular character, the leveling of the plow may be accomplished in a convenient and satisfactory manner; to provide an improved construction and arrangement for laterally adjusting the plowbeams; and to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efliciency and serviceability of a tractor-plow of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings 2- Fig. 1 is a plan of a tractor-plow embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

1916. Serial No. 106,562.

Fig. t is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the plows raised out of the ground. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on line 66 .in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the bracket-bearings for the bail-sections on one plow-beam.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical 88 in Fig. 1. v

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the plows raised out of the ground.

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section, on a larger scale, on line 10-10 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective of one of the toggle-joints between the hand-levers and the crank-axle.

Fig. 12 is a similar section on line 12--12 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is an'enlarged side elevation of the hand-lever-mechanism, on line 18-13 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section on line 14'14 in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged vertical section on line 15--15 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing three plows'instead of two.

Fig. 17 is a perspective of the bracket by which the beam of the third plow is connected to the beam of one of the other plows.

Fig. 18 is a perspective of certain parts of the forward ends of the plow-beams.

As thus illustrated, and referring to Figures 1, 2 and 6, my invention comprises a transverse crank-axle it. having its end porsection on line tions supported-by the land-side wheel B Y and the front-furrow wheel C, which wheels are directly opposite each other when the crank-axle is in the position shown in said figures, and when the plows are in the ground. This axle has a relatively long crank 1 and a relatively short crank 2, the long crank being at the side toward the wheel B, and the short crank being at the other side of the structure. The casting 0 which carries the spindle for the wheel C is mounted on one end of the axle A, and the casting b is mounted on the other end of said axle, it being observed that the wheel B is mounted directly upon the end portion of said axle. The plows D and E are disposed one ahead of the other, in the manner shown, and in such position that the soil from the moldboard of the plow E is thrown into the furrow by the plow D, in a manner that Will be readily understood. The bailsection F has its straight forward portion held in a socket f on the casting a, and the transverse portion of this bail-section is mounted to turn in bearings 3 and 4 secured to the plow-beams The bail-section G is a little longer than the bail-section F, and has its straight forward-portion held in the long socket g which is rigid with the casting b, and the transverse portion of this bailsection G is mounted to oscillate in bearings 5 and 6 on the plow-beams. Fig. 7 is .a side elevation of the bearings 3 and 5, and

it will be seen that these two bearings are formed by one integral bracket H which is secured by bolts it to the side of the plowbeam (Z, the slots '7 in said bracket, through which said bolts extend, permitting adjustment of said bracket longitudinally of the plow-beam. At its rear end, the plow-beain e is provided with a laterally extending bracket-arm 8 which has its end portion held in the bracket-clamp 9 which is secured to the rear end of beam (Z, whereby the plow E and its beam can be adjusted toward and away from the plow D (the front ends of the beams (Z and 6 being adjustably connected together, as hereinafter explained), and held in such adjusted position, by first loosening and then tightening the bolts 10 of said clamp 9, the latter sliding back and forth on the transverse end-portion of said bracket-arm. For this purpose, the bearings 3 and 5 are provided with set-screwcollars 11, to hold the plow-beam against lateral displacement on the two bail-sections, each collar having a hook 12 to engage the lower edge of the adjacent bearing. (See Fig. 8.) At its rear end, the plowbeam 6 is provided with a bracket-arm I for the vertical stem or spindle 2' of therear wheel l3, which latter is tilted over toward the furrow side of the plow in the usual and well-known manner. The bracket-arm I has a rear extension upon which is pivoted the bell-crank-lever 14. which latter is connected at one end by a link 15 with the upper end of the stem or spindle 2'. and a rod 16 at its rear end is connected with the upper end portion of said bellorank. A spring 17 connects the said bellcrank with said extension and assists the rod 16 (when a forward pull is exerted on this rod), in raising the bi'acketarin T on the vertical spindle 2', thereby to raise the plows at their rear ends. The two parallel bars 18 and 19 are fastened to the upper end of the vertical bar 20, which latter has its lower end secured to the bra et-arm T in any suitable manner.

is square portion 21 is fixed on the upper end portion of the spindle 2' and turns therewith. This square portion 21 is disposed rod 16 and is pivoted on the link between the rear ends of the bars 18 and 19, which latter are yieldingly held together by the spring 22 mounted on the rod 23 extending transversely through said bars. i i hen the caster-wheel turns toeither side, as when the direction of travel of the plow is changed, the square p rtion 21 can only turn by forcingthe bar 18 away "from the bar 19 in opposition to the pressure of the spring; s that the tendency is for the caster-wheel to always remain in position to travel straight ahead, the spring 22 causing .the square portion 21 to rotate into normal position as soon as there is no longer any lateral thrust on the caster-wheel. The arms J and J. are secured, respectively, to the bail-sections F and (2-. in any suitable manner, so that when these bail-sections tilt or oscillate in their bearings 73, 4:, 5 and 6, thesaid arms will be moved toward and away from the rear end of the plow. A link 24 extends transversely of the wheeled plow to connect together the upper ends of the arms J and K. being connected with the arm J by a bolt 25, and to thea'rm K by the bolt 26, so that this link 24 is adapted to be moved back and forth by the two arms. A. bar 2? is suitably attached to the 2 1 by a bolt 28. whereby the back-and-iorth movement of the link 24 will operate said rod to control the rear caster-wheel. The front ends of the plow-beams are provided with a draft-arrangement including: a cross-bar which is secured directly to the ends of said beams, and a heavy spring 30 is connected between this cross-bar and the front end of the bar 27, whereby the lifting of the plows is assisted by spring-tension] To permit the lateral adjustment of the beam 0, the bar 29 is provided with holes X for the bolts :0 by which the beam heads Y are connected to said bar. This bar 29, which preferably of angledron formation in cross-section, may also have its top provided with plurality of holes .y for vertical bolts extending through the cast inns or beam-heads in a manner that will be readily understood. It is obvious,

however, that the adjustable connect-ion be-.

tween the forward ends of the plow-beams, whereby the distance between the beams may be changed or adjusted to suit the requirements, may be of any suitable or. des sired construction. The draft-devices for connecting the beam. 29 with the tractionengine, or other motor-vehicle, can, of course. be of any suitable or desired character.

The raising-and-loweringr In. e c h a n i s m. whereby the plows are raised and. lowered at will, to regulate the depth of the plows in the ground. as well for leveling the wheeled-plow, is as follows: The square rock-shaft L is arranged transversely and mo est mounted to rotate in bearings 31 and 32, secured respectively to the plow-beams d and c, said shaft being disposed in rear of the crank-axle A and ahead of the bearings 23, l, 5 and 6 for the bail-sections. The said axle is provided with loose collars and 34;, mounted respectively on the cranks 2 and l, and these collars are held against lateral displacemen u by collars 35 or any suitable character. These collars 35, particularly those for the collar 34, are held in place by set-screws, whereby the collar 34 may be adjusted toward and away from the collar 33 when tie plow l5 and its beam (2 are adjusted laterally. The crank-arm 36 is fixed by a set-screw on one end of the rock-shalt L, and is provided with a round portion or sleeve which rotates in the bearing 31, in a manner that will be readily understood. lVhen the beam 0 and its plow are adjusted laterally, the set-screw of arm 36 is loosened, and the shaft L can then be moved endwise in this arm and the bearing 31, it being understood that this shat inoves endwise when said plow E and its earn are shifted laterally. The vertical supporting-arm 37 has its lower end pivoted on the collar 33, in such manner that said arm is free to swing about a horizontally disposed axis extending longitudinally of the wheeledplow. The upper end of th s arm 37 is connected by a pair of links with the forward end or ()0 the cranlr-arrn 86, in the manner shown more clearly in Fig. 11, and the said crank-arm is provided with shoulders 39 which bear upon the upper edges of said linlrs when the toggle-joint thus provided is straightened out. The said crank-arm 36 is provided with steps 40 which bear against the lower edges of said links when the latter and said arm are moved relatively to each other. A

spring ll connects the end or the arm 36 with the loose portion 01" the arm 37 to forming a toggle. These links 1 3 cranL-arrn 86, except that it on the end of the square rock- I but to the contrary is mounted to -e on the sleeve which is integral wits the hub-portion or the toothed-segment 17, as shown more clearly in Fig. 14 This toggle connection has a spring ll and stoos e0 similar to those at the ther side i machine. laid hub-portion 46 has its nner sidc provided with a sleeve p rtion 48 which turns in the bearing 82 (previously mentioned), and which bearing is integral .1 h the toothed-segment or curved raclr 49. it will be understood that the hub-portion 46 fits the square shaft L and turns therewith. The hand-lever M is rigidly secured to the hub-portion of the arm le and is provided with a catch-d i e m for engaging the teeth and notches or the segment $7, in a runner that will be readily understood. Th hand-lever N is rigidly secured the sci: a? and is provided with a catch or locking device n to engage the teeth and notches of the rack 49 in the usual manner. Thus, the hand-lever N, when released from the raclr 49, can be used for rocking the shaft to thereby operate the cra k-arms and and .vhen this lever is pushed forward. the effect ill be to practically and relatively de ress the crank-axle A, so that the plow-beans will rise elative to said axle. it be desired to level the wheeled plow, the lever M, after being diseiwaged from the rack d'?, i moved forward or backward to reel: the or, --arin eiwithout reciring the shaft L, so wet only the beans e is raised or lowered, thus tilting the fame formed by the two beams to one side or the other while the two wheels B and G remain in their positions on this ground. This tilting is possible, it will oe seen, by reason of the fact that the arms 3'? and L2 are pivoted at their lower ends. The lever N can be used, therefore, for rocking the shaft to raise and lower the plows, when is desired to change the depth of a furrow, or for other purposes.

The mechanism for rotating the cra -lraxle A in its bearings, which are formed by the castings c and 5, thereby to enable the driver or attendant on the traction-engine ahead to raise and lower the plow-bottorns will, is as follows:

Referring to Figures 1O, 12 and 15, it will be seen that the wheel has a hub-portion which is rigid with the cup-shaped shell or casing O, which latter is provided on its inner cylindric surface with teeth 0 which are suitably spaced apart. The other cupshaped section P of this clutch-casino is suitably lreyed to the axle A, the hub or the wheel B being loose thereon. The clutchcasing sections @and are spaced apart to provide a slot 79 between the edges thereof. A clutch-dog 50 is pivoted at 51 on the clutch-casing-section P, so that the two sections G and P and the axle A will all revolve together when the said dog is in looking engagement with one of the teeth 0, in a manner which will be readily understood. This dog has a rigid tripping n 52 and rigid lever-arm the said trippingnrni projecting outwardly through the slot 39, and the said lever-arm being connected by a linlr 54 with the similar lever-arm 55 which is rigid with the trippingnrni 56, which latter also extends outwardly through said slot. The lever-arm 57 is rigid with the arms 55 and 56, and is connected by a outer periphery of a notch 62 immediately in front thereof, and

having a cam 63 immediately in front of said. notch; and the stop 61 has a similar notch 64 and a cam directly in front thereof. lVhen the dog is in engagement with the toothed inner surface of the clutclrcasing-section (has shown'in Fig. 12, the tripping-arms I32 and 56 are immedi ately at one side of the notches 62 and 64;, as shown in Fig. 12, whereas when the two casing-sections are not locked together the said tripping-arms are directly opposite or at one side of the stops and 61 on the inner casing-section. A lever Q is pivoted at 9 upon the sleeve or soc. et (previously mentioned), and has its lower end provioed with a roller 66, while the upper end of said lever is provided with a rope or other flexible connection 67 which extends to the position of the driver "or other attendant on the traction-engine ahead. A spring 68 connects the lever Q at a point above its fulcrum g with a bracket 69 on the bail-section G, whereby the said lever is yieldingly held in position to cause the roller 66 to bear againstthe outer periphery of the clutchcasing. When the roller 66 is in the notch 62, it engages the tripping-arm 56, thus causing the arm 55 to push on the link 54-, and causing the latter to actuate the arm 53 and thereby hold the dog 50 out of engagement with the teeth 0 of the clutchcasing. In this condition, the wneel B can rotate freely on the end portion of the crank-axle A, this axle being located in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6, so that the plows are in the ground. lVhen the driver or operator on the traction-engine, or other motor-vehicle, pulls forward on the rope 67, the roller 66 is disengaged from the notch 62, thereby allowing the dog 50 to engage a tooth 0, thus locking the clutchcasing-section O and P together, so that the rotation of the wheel B will compel the crank-axle A to rotate or revolve therewith. This continues until the roller strikes the cam 65, and until the said roller rides into the notch 64-, thus engaging the trippingarm 52 and thereby disengaging the dog 50 from the tooth on the inner surface of the clutch-casing. In this way, after one-half of a revolution of the crank-axle, thewheel B is automatically unlocked or disconnected from said axle, by the engagement of the roller 66 with the tripping-arm 52, so that the axle then remains in the position shown in Figures & and 9, thereby raising and holding the plows in elevated position. During the raising of the plows in this messes other plow, so that the land side of the gangplow has a greater lift than the furrow side thereof. By this arrangement the plows will be level when the furrow-wheel C is out of the furrow and the plows are raised. When it is desired to lower the plows into the ground, another pull on the rope 67 will disengage the roller 66 from the notch 64:, thereby allowing the wheel B to again give the cranleaxle A one-half of a revolution, and the roller 66 will then enter the notch 62, causing the clutch-mechanism to automatically cease operating and remain in the position shown in Fig. 10, but permitting the wheel B to rotate freely on the end of the axle. In this way, the traction and torque of the wheel B are utilized to accomplish the raising and lowering of the plow-beams, and the mechanism thus provided is easily controlled by the driver or operator on the tractor ahead. of the arms 37 and l2 permit these arms to lean to one side (see Fig. 9.) when the plows are raised out of the ground, which tilting of the plow-beanrframe is caused by the difference in length between the two cranks 1 and 2, the crank 1 being the longer.

A set-screw 70 is provided at the rear end of the plow, being inserted upwardly through a lug 71 on the sleeve 72 of the spindle 2', and the arm I resting upon the upper end of this screw to support the weight of the plows when the latter are in the ground. (See Figures 2 and 3.) By adjusting this screw, the plows can be raised and lowered at their rear ends, to an extent sufficient to change the forward tilt or downsuck of the plows, in a manner that will be readily understood. At its rear end, the rod 16 is provided with a loose sleeve 7 3 which is pivoted on the upper end of the bell-crank 14;, and with a nut 74 which is screwed onto the threaded end-portion of said rod behind said sleeve. While the plows are in the ground, the sleeve 73 is a slight distance ahead of the nut 74-, thereby providing a slight lost-motion which permits adjustment of the rock-shaft L by the hand-levers, as in changing the depth, without raising or lowering the plows on the rear wheel. It will also be seen that the rear spring 17 assists in permitting the plow-points to enter the ground firstthat is to say, it enables the heel of each plow to rise, thus permitting the points to enter the ground first and without affecting the rod 16, because the sleeve 73 can slide forward on this rod. It will also be seen that the spring 17 is, therefore, adapted to assist in raising the rear end The pivots at the lower ends of the plow-beams, when the plow-points encounter stones or other obstructions in the ground, thus permitting the plows to rise or jump over such obstructions without undue strain. When the plows are raised out of the ground, by the clutch-meshanisni operated by the wheel B, the nut is then engages the sleeve 73, as shown in Fig. 4-, and the bracket-arm T disengiges the screw and moves upward a distance. its the front ends of lo plow-beams begin to rise and move up a distance before the nut 7d engages the sleeve 7 the plows will rise in a manner which will cause the furrows to terminate approximately on the same transverse line, the point of the first plow coming out on this line, and the point of the second plow then also leaving the ground this line as the machine moves forward, so that the furrows are all of the same length. The rod 16 thus sustains a portion of the weight of the plows in raised position.

' Tn Fig. 16, a third plow R is provided, being located a little to the rear and at the land side of the plow E, so that the soil thrown from the mold-board of the plow R will enter the furrow cut by the plow E, in a manner that will be readily understood. This third plow has a beam 7 provided at its front end with a laterally-bent portion which is connected to the beam 0 by means of a bracket or asting 76 (see Fig. 17), and the rear end of this beam a is provided with a laterally-extending arm 77. similar to the arm 8 (previously described}, the said arm '57 having its end portion held in the clamp 78 secured to the rear end of the beam c, or by any ther suitable means. The bracket '76 is secured by bolts 79 to the plow-beam a, and has its transverse arm provided with a series of bolt-holes 80 for the bolts 81 by which the plow-beam portion 75 is secured in place. Thus, by loosening the bolts 81 and the clamp 78, the beam 7 can be laterally adjusted, thereby to vary the distance between the plows E and it, it being understood that with this construction the distance can also be varied between the plows D and E in the manner previously described. l -Tith third plow, as shown in Fig. 16, the rear caster-wheel 13 is mounted, in the manner previously described, on the rear end of the beam 0", instead of on the rear end of the beam 6. thus bringing the wheel 13 more early behind the wheel B and in position to" follow the furrow which the plow R makes in the soil.

lVith the construction shown and described, the plows enter the ground pointfirst, the various parts being proportioned for that purpose: and by reason of the toggle-joints formed by the arms 36, 87 and links 88, and the connections between the upper ends thereof and the shaft L, the forward ends of the plow-beams can rise to permit the plow-beams to ride over any 0bstructions which may be encountered in the bottoms of the furrows, it being observed that this is accomplished without lifting the front wheels from the ground. The handlevers d and N are so arranged that they are very easily reached by the operator sit ting on the rear of the tractor. The lever N is for depth regulation only, and the other lever M merely regulates the level of the bottoms. A large part of the weight of the plows is carried on the wheels through the medium of the spring 17 at the rear wheel, and at the points where the bail-sections F and G pivot on the plow-beams, whereby there is a sort of flexibility, so to speak, which tends to reduce the draft or pull on the tractor, and which enables the plow to adapt itself to hard and soft ground. With the arrangement shown and described, the traction of the land-side wheel B is used to pull the plow-bottoms into the ground; but, at the same time, the lever-control is such that the plows can be lifted out of the ground without the aid of the power-lift, which gives immediate control of the plow under all conditions. The structure is such that the power-lift raises the plows pointfirst out of the ground, but at the same time the rear end of the gang-plow is ultimately raised automatically as high as the front one, the various parts and connections being properly proportioned to operate in this manner. As the tilting of the bail-sections F and G is employed for operating the crank-arms ,l and K, and thereby the rod 16, it follows that the raising and lowering of the rear end of the plow is entirely automatic, there being no necessity for a separate lever to control the rear wheel; and with this arrangement a single lever is sufficient for raising and lowering the plows to regulate the dept i, or to raise the plows entirely out of the ground. It will also be seen. that the wheels C and B are both perfcctly free on the ends of the cranleaxle and can be quickly removed by simply removing the ordinary bolts or cotter-pins, or otretaining devices, located at the outer ends of the wheel-spindles The crank-axle A, as previously explained, has a greater throw at the land side thereof than at the furrow side, which is desirable in order to hold the plows nearly level when the front furrow-wheel G rides out of the furrow. The character of the connections between the bail-sections F and G and the crankaxle A makes it possible to use ordinary castings, and with the castings on the front ends of the bails held against lateral displacement on the crank-axle, a construction is obtained which very effectually resists lateral thrusts on the wheels. The steps 40 on the two toggle-connections between the rock-shaft L and the cranlea-Xle A limit the upwardmovement of the plows, in rising over obstructions, and the springs 41 serve to pull the plows back into the ground, and serve to hold the plows in the ground under various conditions. Obviously, the connections between these springs and the ends of the arms 36 and 4 1 may have any suitable means for adjusting the spring tension, thereby to ensure the desired yielding action or controlv of these springs over the two toggle-connections.

With funther reference to Figures t and 16, showingtwo-bottom and three-bottom gang-plows, it will be seen that the forward end of the rod 16 is provided with an upturned portion 82 for engaging the hole 83 in the bar 27, when two plow-bottoms are used. This bar 27 is, however, of some length and is provided with another hole 8 1, so that when a. third bottom is added the portion 82 can be removed from the hole 83 and shifted to the hole 84, thereby in effect increasing the length. of the rod. The bolts 25 and 26 have their rear ends provided with nuts 85 which bear against the rear sides of the lever-arms J and K, whereby the upper ends of these lever-arms can slide forward upon the bolts 25 and 26, if the plows do not come out of the ground readily, thus preventing breakage. In other words, means are provided (including the spring 30 and the lever-arms J and K) at the forward end of the rod 16 to cause the endwise reciprocat-ion thereof, but the yielding connection afforded by the capacity of the lever-arms J and l: to slide forward on the bolts 25 and 26 (the openings 86 and 87 being tapered rearward for this purpose) serves to prevent a positive forward pull on said rod, as the only forward pull exerted, at least during a portion of the forward movement of the arms J and K, depending upon the particular adjustment of the parts, is by the spring 30, and this is only a yielding pull. hen two plow-bottoms are used, the bolts 25 and 26 extend through the lower'openingsv S6 in the upper end-portions of the lever arms J and K, in the manner shown in Fig. 1, but when three plow-bottoms are used, shown in Fig. 16, then these bolts 25 and 26 are shifted and inserted through the upper openings 87 of the said lever-arms J and K so as to give the spring 36 greater leverage, as in such case the plows may require a lit tle greater up-and-down movement. When the plows come easily out of the ground, no forward pull on the rod 16 by the lever-arms J and K is necessary, as the springs 30 and 17 are strong enough to lift the plows out of the ground-that is to say, they are strong enough to raise the rear end of the gang-plow-structure during the operation of rotating the crank-axle A. to raise the forward end of the plow-beamstructure. As stated. therefore, the arms J and K can move forward a. distance, when the said cranleaxle is rotated to raise the plows, without exerting a positive forward pull on the rod 16, thus preventing breakage if for any reason the spindle i does not slide readily in the braoket-bearing I or in case the rear raising-and-lowering mechanism does not operate readily. The bar 24 being pivoted at 28, serves as a sort of evener between the two lever-arms J and K on the bail-sections. The rear end of the bar 27 has a downturned portion 88 provided with an opening for the rod 16, so that this bar and rod are practically rigid when connected together. Any suitable means, such as a cotter-pin 89, can be inserted through the upper end of the rod-portion 82 for the purpose. of retaining the latter in place.

l Vith further respect to the arrangement of av plurality of plows side by side to form a gang-plow, as shown in Fig. 16, an oblique brace Z is preferably arranged to extend across the tops of the plow-beams, thereby to stiffen the frame formed by the plowbeams and the brackets or braces by which they are connected together. This oblique brace Z is provided with bolt holes for the bolts or other devices by which the brace is secured to the plow-beams, and whereby the connections between the said brace and beams can be changed when any plo w-beam is adjusted laterally to change the distance between the beams.

lVhat I claim as my invention isz- 1. In a plowing machine, the combination of a plow and beam therefor, a caster wheel having mechanism for raising and lowering the plow at the rear end thereof, oppositely arranged land-side and front-furrow wheels, a rotatable crank axle extending between said land-side wheel and said front-furrow wheel, a bail having its forward ends mounted on said axle, bearings to pivotally support the transverse rear end portion of the bail on the plow beams, a clutch operated by the land-side wheel to rotate said crank axle, devices operated by said crank axle to raise and lower the forward end of the plow beam thereby to move the plow into and out of the ground, controller for said clutch, connections operated by the tilting of said bail to operate said mechanism, and means n'iounted on the plow beam to operate said devices without rotation of the crank axle; said devices including a pair of toggle joint connections for the opposite end portions of said crank axle to permit lifting of the plow over obstructions in a furrow.

2. In a gang plow of the class described, a plurality of plow beams arranged along side one another and having each a furrow forming device; two bail sections having transversely extending portions supported in bearings carried by said beams, and downwardly and forwardly extending portions ill) the free ends of which are connected each with a bearing member, said transversely extending portions being arranged one in front of the other and having each an upwardly extending arm; a transversely extending equalizing bar the free ends of which are connected with the upper ends of said arms; a spring operatively connected with said equalizing bar and acting to swing the free ends of said bail sections downwaro; a rotatable crank axle located adjacent the front end of the plow and the ends of which are supported in said bearing members; wheels located adjacent and whereby the ends of said crank axle are supported; two

lifting devices intermediate said crank axle and the outer ones of the plurality of beams aforesaid, and through which said beams are moved both upward and downward; and means operated by one of the wheels aforesaid and controlled by the operator of the plow for imparting successive half rotations to said crank axle, and for holding it infixed positions at the ends of the said movements.

3. in a gang plow of the class described, a plurality of plow beams arranged alongside one another and having each a furrow forming device; two bail sections having transversely extending portions supported in bearings carried by said beams, and downwardly and forwardly extending portions the free ends of which are connected each with a bearing member, and which transversely extending portions are provided each with an upwardly extending arm; a transversely extending equalizing bar the free ends of which are connected one with each of said arms; a spring normally under tension, one end thereof being operatively connected with said equalizing bar, and the other with an abutment located adjacent the front end of the plow; mechanism for lifting the rear ends of said plow beams; aconnecting member intermediate said rear end lifting mechanism and said equalizing bar; a rotatable crank axle located adjacent the front end of the plow and the ends of which are supported in said bearing members; wheels located adjacent and whereby the ends of said crank axle are supported; two lifting devices intermediate said crank axle and the outer ones of the plurality of beams aforesaid, and through which said beams are moved both upward and downward; and means operated by one of the wheels aforesaid and controlled by the operator of the plow for imparting successive half rotations to said crank axle, and for holding it in fixed positions at the ends of said movements.

a. In a gang plow of the class described, a plurality of plow beams arranged alongside one another and having each a furrow forming device; two bail sections having trans? versely extending portions supported in bearings carried by said beams, and downwardly and forwardly extending portions the free ends of which are connected each with a bearing member; a rotatable crank axle located adjacent the front end of the plow the ends of which are supported in said bearing members; wheels located adj cent and whereby the ends of said crank axles are supported; two toggle mechanisms intermediate said crank axle and the outer ones of the plurality of beams aforesaid, and through which mechanism said beams are moved both upward and downward; springs associated with said toggle mechanisms whereby either may yield to permit upward movement of the plow beam with which it associated; and means operated by one of the wheels aforesaid and controlled by the operator of the plow for imparting successive half rotations to said crank axle, and for holding it in fixed positions at the ends of said movements.

5. In a gang plow of the class described, two plow beams arranged alongside one another and having each a furrow forming device; two bail sections having transversely extending portions supported in bearings carried by said beams, and downwardly and forwardly extending portions the free ends of which are connected each with a bearing member; a rotatable crank axle located adjacent the front end of the plow and the ends of which are supported in said bearing members; wheels located adjacent and whereby the ends of said crank axle are supported; two lifting devices intermediate said crank axle and said beams and through which said beams are moved both upward and downward; an oscillating shaft supported in bearings carried by said plow beams and with which one of the lifting mechanisms aforesaid is connecten; an oscillating memher with which the other of said lifting mechanism is connected; means whereby said oscillating shaft and oscillating meme ber may be operated in unison to thereby lift the plow beams; means whereby said oscillating shaft may be operated independent of said oscillating member to level the plow beams; and means operated by one of the wheels aforesaid and controlled by the operator of the plow for imparting successive half rotations to said crank axle, and for holding it in fixed positions at the ends of said movements.

6; In a plowing machine, a rear caster wheel, a plow beam supported by said wheel, mechanism for raising and lowering the plow on said wheel, a rod. extending rearward to control said mechanism, means at the forward end of said rod to cause endwise reciprocation thereof, thereby to control said mechanism, instrumentalities to operate said rod operating means and to raise and lower the front end of the beam, and front wheels operatively connected with said rod operating means and with said plow beam, said rod operating means having a sliding connection with said rod to prevent a positive forward pull thereon; said sliding connection including a pivoted cross-bar and two upright lever arms connected with the ends of said cross-bar by bolts which extend parallel with said rod.

7. In a gang plow of the class described, a plurality of plow beams arranged alongside one another and having each a furrow forming device; lifting mechanism adapted to lift the front ends of said beams and which lifting mechanism includes two independent bail sections having transversely extending portions supported in bearings carried by said beams, and each of which transverse portions is provided with an upwardly extending arm; a transversely arranged equalizing bar the ends of which are operatively connected with said arms; a spring normally under tension the rear end of which is operatively connected with said equalizing bar and the front end of which is connected with a fixed abutment; mechanism located adjacent the rear ends of said beams for lifting said rear ends; and a connecting member extending between said equalizing bar and said rear end lifting mechanism and through which the latter is operated.

8. In a plowing machine, a rear caster wheel,a plow beam supported by said wheel, mechanism for raising and lowering the plow on said wheel, a rod extending rearward to control said mechanism, means at the forward end of said rod to cause endwise reciprocation thereof, thereby to control said mechanism, instrumentalities to operate said rod operating means and to raise and lower the front end of the beam, and front wheels operatively connected with said rod operating means and with said plow beam, said rod operating means having a sliding connection with said rod to prevent a positive forward pull thereon; said means including a pair of upright lever arms mounted to tilt about parallel and horizontal axes extending transversely of the machine, said axes being spaced apart, and arranged one ahead of the other", and bolts extending through the upper portions of said lever arms, said bolts being parallel with said rod, and each lever arm having upper and lower openings for its allotted bolt, thereby to permit the use of additional plow bottoms.

9. In a plowing machine, two plow beams arranged alongside one another, a pair of bail sections pivoted on the plow beams to tilt or oscillate about parallel and horizontal axes extending transverse of the machine, with one axis in front of the other, so that the two sections form a bail, a wheel ineeesa associated with each bail section and located adjacent the free end thereof, a crank axle extending between said wheels and supported thereby to support said bail sections, and two lifting mechanisms independent of one another and intermediate said crank axle and said plow beams and through which said plow beams are lifted.

10. In a plowing machine, two plow beams arranged alongside one another, a pair of bail sections pivotally mounted on said beams and which sections are independent of one another so that each may moveindependently of the other, said bail sections extending transverse to said plow beams and having bearings adjacent their free lower ends; a transversely extending crank axle rotatable in said last mentioned bears ings; two lifting mechanisms intermediate said crank axle and said plow beams and which lifting mechanisms are yieldable so as to permit movement of each plow beam upward independently of the other, and means for imparting successive half rotations to said crank axle and for arresting the'movement of the same at the ends of said half rotations.

11. In a plow of the class described, a plurality of plow beams arranged alongside one another; an oscillating arm carried by said plow beams; a toggle link pivotally connected with said arm; stops carried by said arm and between which said link may oscillate; a spring acting upon said arm to restrain upward movement thereof; a lifting link pivotally connected with the free end of said toggle link; and a rotatablecrank shaft with which the lower end of said lifting link is connected and through which said plow beams may be lifted by said shaft.

12. In a plow of the class described, a plurality of plow beams arranged alongside one another; two adjustable arms associated one with each of said plow beams; means for varying the positions of said arms relative to one another; two toggle links one pivotally connected with each of said arms;

two vertically arranged lifting links the upper ends of which are connected one with each of said toggle links; a rotating crank axle with which the lower ends of said lifting links are connected; two springs associated one with each of said arms and adapted to oppose upward movement thereof; and stop mechanism associated with each arm and adapted to engage the toggle links aforesaid, to thereby limit the movement of said toggle links relative to said arms.

18. In a plowing-machine, a plow, op.- positely arranged front wheels, means including an axle extending between said wheels to support the forward end of the plow-beam, instrumentalities for operating messes said axle to raise and lower the plow, a transverse rock-shaft on the plow-beam, a toggle-connection between said rock-shaft and axle, and a hand-lever to rock said shaft and thereby operate said toggle-connection to raise and lower the plow-beam above the axle.

14, In a plowingmachine, a plow, a rockshaft extending transversely of the machine, a hand-lever fixed on said shaft, means to hold said lever in different positions, said hand-lever having a cylindric portion forming a sleeve on said shaft, a second handlever mounted to swing on said sleeve, means to lock the two hand-levers together and hold the second hand-lever in difierent positions, an axle, instrumentalities for operating said axle to raise and lower the plow, a connection between said axle and the second handlever, and a connection between said shaft and said axle.

15. In a plowing-machine, the combination of a plow and beam therefor, a casterwheel having mechanism for raising and lowering the plow at the rear end thereof, oppositely arranged land-side and front-furrow wheels, a rotatable crank-axle eXtending between said land-side wheel and said front-furrow wheel, a bail having its forward ends mounted on said axle, bearings to pivotally support the transverse rear-endportion of the bail on the plow-beam, a

clutch operated by the land-side wheel to rotate said cranleaxle, devices operated by said crank-axle to raise and lower the forward end of the plow-beam, thereby to move the plow into and out of the ground, a controller for said clutch, connections operated by the tilting of said bail to operate said mechanism, and means mounted on the plow-beam to operate said devices without rotation of the crank-axle, said devices consisting of a toggle-connection at each side of the machine, and each toggle-connection having a spring to yieldingly resist the upwardmovement of the plow in passing over an obstruction.

16. In a plowing-machine, a plow having a forwardly extending beam, instrumentalities to raise and lower the plow, and means including a pair of toggle-joint-connections for raising and lowering the front end of said beam to regulate the depth of the furrow, each toggle-joint-connection having a spring to yieldingly resist upward movement of the plow in passing over an obstruction.

17. In a plowing-machine, a plow having a forwardly extending beam, instrumentalities to raise and lower the plow, means including a toggle-joint-device for raising and lowering the front end of said beam to regulate the depth of the furrow, said toggle-joint-connection comprising a crankarm, a link pivoted on said crank-arm, said crank-arm having an upper shoulder to bear on said link, a lower stop to engage the lower edge thereof, and a toggle-element pivoted on the other end of said link, and said means including a device to operate said crank-arm.

18. In a plowing-machine, a plow, a front furrow-wheel to support the plow, and mechanism for raising and lowering the plow, including a crank-axle having its middle portion provided with relatively long and short cranks for leveling the plow when the said wheel leaves the furrow.

19. In a plowing-machine, a plow, means including wheels to support the plow, and mechanism supported by said means and having an adjustable hand-lever to raise and lower the plow, said mechanism having a stop to support the plow against downward movement and being provided with yielding means to permit upward movement of the plow over an obstruction while said lever remains stationary in the adjusted position thereof.

20. In a plowing-machine, a plow, means including wheels to support the plow, and mechanism supported by said means and having an adjustable hand-lever to raise and lower the plow, said mechanism having a stop to support the plow against downward movement and being provided with yielding means to permit upward movement of the plow over an obstruction while said lever remains stationary in the adjusted position thereof, said yielding means having a spring to resist said upward movement of the plow.

21. In a plowing-machine, a gang-plow having forwardly extending beams, a landside wheel and a front-furrow wheel and a rear-furrow wheel and instrumentalities for supporting the plow on said wheels, comprising devices to lift the plow out of the ground and means for raising and lowering the front ends of said beams to regulate the furrow depth, and a plurality of handlevers to control said means, said handlevers having devices to hold them in adjusted position, said means including two oppositely arranged connections provided with stops to hold the beams against downward movement, and said oppositely arranged connections being each provided with means to yield and permit upward movement of the plow over an obstruction while said hand-levers remain stationary in the adjusted position thereof.

22. In a plowing-machine, a structure as specified in claim 21, each connection having a spring to yieldingly resist said upward movement of the plow.

23. In a plowing-machine, a structure as specified in claim 21, one of said levers being arranged to regulate the depth, and another of said hand-levers being connected to tilt;the machine sidewise to tilt the gan plow laterally.

1 2a. In a wheeled plow, thecombination of a front support for the plow, a member extending upwardly from said support, a crank mounted on the plow, a link connecting said crank with the upper end of said member, so that the crank and link form a crank arm, means to operate said crank the top of said link, and having means to engage the bottom of said link, thereby to limit the movement of the link relatively to said crank.

26. A structure as specified in claim 24, in combination with a spring for connecting said crank with the lower portion of said member, and means to limit the relative movement offsaid crank and link.

27. A structure as specified in claim 24, saidsupport being a crank axle having two cranks, said member being mounted on one crank of said axle, in combination with a similar member for the other crank of the axle, one crank of the axle being longer than the other, and another link and crank for the upper end of said last mentioned member.

28. In a wheeled plow, the combination with a rotating axle, of a forwardly extending crank supported by the beam of the plow, a link pivotally connected with said crank, and an upwardly extending arm the lower end of which is connected with said axle and the upper end of which is connected with the free end of said link.

29. In a wheel plow, two plow beams arranged alongside one another, a front bail comprising two independent bail sections supported in bearings carried by said beams, wheels located adjacent the free ends of said bails, said bail sections being arranged one ahead of the other and in a horizontally disposed plane, a rotating crank shaft operated by one of the wheels of the plow, and two lifting mechanisms intermediate said crank shaft and said plow beams and through which said beams are moved both upward and, downward assaid shaft isrotated through successive half rotations.

30. In a plowing machine, a rear caster esa-sea wheel, a plow supported by said wheel, mechanism for ralsing and lowerlng the plow on said wheel, a rod extending rearwardly to control said mechanism, means at the forward end of said rod to cause endwise reciprocation thereof to thereby control said mechanism, and instrumentalities to'operate said means, said means having asliding connection with said rod to prevent positive forward pull thereon, said sliding connection including a. pivoted cross-bar and two upright lever arms connected with the ends of said cross-bar by bolts which extend parallel with said rod.

31. In a plowing machine, a rear caster wheel, a plow supported by said wheel, mechanism for raising and lowering the plow on said wheel, a rod extending rearwardly to control. said mechanism, means at the forward end of said rod to causeendwise reciprocation thereof to thereby control said mechanism, and instrumentalities to'operate said means, said means having a sliding connection with said rod to prevent positive forward pull thereon, said means including a pair of upright lever arms and pivoted bail sections for operating said lever arms about parallel and horizontal axes extending transversely of the machine, said axes being spaced apart and arranged one ahead of the other.

32. In a plowing machine, a rear caster wheel, a plow supported by said wheel, mechanism for raising and lowering the plow on said wheel, a rod extending rearwardly to control said mechanism, means at the forward end of said rod to cause endwise reciprocation thereof'tothereby control said mechanism, and instrumentalities to operate said means, said means having a sliding connection with said rod to prevent positive forward pull thereon, said means including the pair of upright lever arms mounted to turn about parallel and horizontal axes extending transversely of the ma chine, said axes being spaced apart and arranged one ahead of the other, and bolts extending through the upper portions of said lever arms, said bolts being parallel with ALVARO S. KROTZ.

Illinois, this 

